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The differences between handymen and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a handyman, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $44,648 average annual salary of a handyman.
The top three skills for a handyman include plumbing, customer service and drywall repair. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Handyman | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,648 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $21.47 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 3,371 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company. Furthermore, a handyman must also discuss the extent of repairs to clients, even sharing insights on maintaining facilities in good condition. There are instances when a handyman may be required to work in a group setting, which requires an active line of communication and coordination.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Handymen and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Handyman | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $44,648 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $61,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Silver Spring, MD | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a handyman and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Handyman | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between handymen' and general contractors' demographics:
| Handyman | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |